Machine for forging horseshoe-nails



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

' B. E. PIERCE.

MAGHINE FOR FORGING HORSESEOE NAILS. No. 363,418. Patentg d May 24, 1887.

' N. PETERS. Phoio-Lnlmgmphcn Washinghm, D. C.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets--Sheet 2.

E. E. PIERCE.

MACHINE FOR FORGING HORSESHOE NAILS No. 363,418. a r Patented May 24, 1887.

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ERASTUS E. PIERCE, OF NE\V BRIGHTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

MACHINE FOR Foselne HORSESHOE NAILS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 363,418, dated May 24, 1887.

Application filed June 3, 1886. Serial No. 204,069. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERASTUS E. Irnuon, ofNew Brighton, in the county of Beaver and State of Pennsylvania, have made certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Manufacturing Horseshoe-Nails, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in machines designed for use in the manufacture of horseshoe-nails by that particular method known to the art as forging, and has for its object the provision of a 'machine of the class named wherein the end of a nailrod is by gradual reduction quickly transformed v into a nail-blank adapted to be subsequently finished by a separate machine.

To this end the invention consists in a series of roller-diesjournaled to a suitable carrier and adapted to be successively brought into contact with the rod in manner very similar to that shown and described in Letters Patent N 0. 241,562, issued to me May 17, 1881, and upon which patent the present application is an improvement.

Theinvention further consists in the peculiar construction, arrangement, and operation of the several elements comprised in the machine, substantially as will be hereinafter fully de scribed. t

Referring to the accompanying drawings,

. which illustrate one embodiment of my invention, and wherein similar letters of reference denote similar parts, Figure 1 represents a side elevation, partly in section, of a horseshoe-nail machine constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 represents a plan View of the operative parts of the machine.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the die-carrier, taken on the line 1 20f Fig.1. Fig. 4 is a detail plan view of the rod-guide detached from Fig. 5 represents an elevation of a finished horseshoe-nail,showing one of the forms imparted by my invention. Fig. 6 is a plan ofa pair of dies that operate to form the sides of the nails and acenter piece (or guide) in position slightly in advance of and between them. Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view taken 011 the line 45 46 of Fig. 1. Fig. 8 represents an elevation (with disk G and die G removed) of dies G H, and K acting on a nail-blank.

In carrying out myinvention I employ a bedplate, A, which, if desired, may be mounted upon legs or supports. (Not shown herein.) I provide the bed A at one side of its middle with an aperture, a, and at its opposite side edges with upwardly-projecting standards A,having at their upper ends journal-bearings that receive and supp'ortthe rotatable drivingshaft B.

O designates the die-carrier, which is mounted upon the shaft B intermediate of the standards A and rotates in unison with said shaft.

D D designate gear wheels, which are mounted upon the shaft B at each side of the carrier 0 and provided with sleeved hubs D D ,that extend and are secured to the standards A for the purpose of holding said wheels from rotation. One of said wheels-to wit, D--operates within a recess formed in one of the side faces of the carrier, and is provided of the disks G G upon prolongations of the shafts F F, or on screws f, that extend into said shafts and secure the dies thereto. Each stud g bears on a shoulder, g, of its die and insures the positive turning of the die with the disk or shaft, and holds the die positively in position, yet the die may be quickly removed and replaced in exact position, the removal being effected by withdrawing the screw f.

H designates a peripheral groove formed about the carrier G intermediate of the shafts F F, within which are secured, by screws h, blocks H, the outer surfaces of which, at the rear ends thereof, are a little above (that is to say, farther from the center of the roll-carricr) the outer surfaces of the disks G G, while said surfaces at the forward ends are inclined downward, as shown in Figs. 1 and 6.. The blocks H are placed slightly in advance of the disks, and are provided at their rear ends with curved side faces. (See Fig. 6.)

By reference to the drawings, Fig.1, it will be observed that the disks G G, having dies j G G as above described, are arranged between the points 1 and 9 at equal distances apart upon the carrier, and the said dies are so formed and arranged as to gradually reduce the nail-rod in lateral direction to the proper size and shape required.

I designates disks, similan in form and size with the disks G, that are mounted upon one end of shafts I, which turn in sleeves I, that 10 project through the carrier 0 outside of the flange O. I provide the opposite ends-of the shafts 1 with gear-pinions 1 that engage and are rotated by the spur gear-wheel D.

K designates dies which are mounted upon 1 the faces of each alternate disk I upon the projecting ends of the shafts I, or upon screws that extend into said shafts, and are caused to turn with said shafts by studs 1', that project from said disks I in same manner as studs g g on the disks G G.

The dies K have smooth outer edges that impinge against one of the faces of the nail, and said edges. have such size and configuration as, in conjunction with rollers L, to be described, to gradually reduce the end of the nail-rod to the proper thickness and shape to form the desired nail-blank.

The said alternate disks I and their dies K are placed above small smoothfaced rollers L,

which turn loosely upon pins Z, (shown by dotted lines,) that project from blocks Z, that are held in position within corresponding recesses in the carrier by screws P, as shown by. dotted lines at X, or by clips, as shown at Y,

Fig. 1. The rollersLoperate within thegroove H, as shown. The inner ends of the pinsl enter recesses formed in the carrier at the opposite side of the groove H, as shown in Fig. 7. By

this construction the rollers can be readily re- 4o moved and replaced in case of wear or injury.

It will also be observed that the other alter- .enough to operate between the dies GG, as

5 shown in Fig. 3/ Each guide K is placed immediately over one of the blocks H, slightly in advance of the centers of the disks G G, and operates, in conjunction with its block H, to prevent twisting or turning of the nail-blank on its edge while being acted on by the dies G G .The different parts are maintained in the same relative positions to each other by being secured to and carried by the carrier 0, and the hold of the blocks H and guides K on the blank is always a little in advance of the point of contact of the dies G G as they travel along the nail-blank, as shown by the drawings, Fig. 8.

Nails such as are represented by Fig. 5 are not commonly used in the United States; but

when it is desired to make such nails the beveling and bending dies P P are used. The die P has a curved surface and a projection, and the die P has two projections.

The operation of the dies P P is as follows:

The projection on the die Pand the first projection on the die P are simultaneously brought represented in Fig. 5. The nail-rod, instead of being held above the carrier, as in the machine described in the aforesaid patent, is supported below the carrier at an angle, with its face projecting into the line of action of the dies, asin the said patented machine, and as shown in Fig. 1 and in dotted lines, Fig. 2.

Having described the aneans by which the nail-rod is reduced to the proper size and shape of a nail-blank, I will now proceed to describe the means whereby the nail-blank is cut to the proper length and severed from the nail-rod. Iaccomplish the first of these objectsto wit, cutting the nail-blank to a predetermined length-by cutters N N, one of which, N, is secured by a screw, it, within a slot, a, formed in a block, N securedto the face of a disk,.-.N mounted upon one end of a shaft, N*, (shown by dotted lines, Fig; 1,) that is journaled in the carrier 0. This shaft is provided upon its opposite end with a gearpinion similar to the pinions 1 that engages with and is rotated by the spur gear-wheel D. The other cutter, N, is secured by a disk, N and nut n upon the face of a disk, N", that is mounted within a recess in the carrier upon the end of a shaft. N, which turns in the car-. rier 0, parallel with the shaft N and is'operated in unison with the latter shaft through engaging gear-wheels. (Shown by dotted lines, Fig. l.) The cutters N N are adapted to shear off any surplus metal at the point of the nailblank, as will be understood. The nail-blank, after being brought to the required form and size, is severed from the rod by adjustable cutters'R R, the first of which is held by ascrew, o within a slot, r, formed in a cutter-head, R, secured to the face of a disk, R, mounted upon a shaft turning in the carrier and operated in manner similar to shaft N. The opposite cutter, R, is held within the face of a cutter-head, B, which is secured by a screw, 1"", to the face of a disk, R mounted upon a rotatable shaft within a recess, 1, in the carrier.

The cutter R, has a V shaped edge, which projects beyond or outside of the pitch-line of the driving-gear of the head carrying the cutter, while the cutter Rhas a square or nearly square edge, which, as shown, is set at or a little inside of the pitch-line of its drivinggear. While the carrier 0 moves in the direction of its arrow, Fig. 1, each cutter-head is revolved in the direction of its arrow, so that the shearing portions of the cutters do not, for the time'being, travel forward with the carrier, but move on lines approximately at right angles with the faces of the nail-rod.

If the cutters R B were both of the same shape and of equal length from the centers of the shafts, the head of the nail would be out upon curved lines,formingarib in the center; but by arranging the cutters as shown, one projecting beyond and the other within the pitclrline of the gears, the line of movement of the shearing-edge of the cutter R is nearly at right angles to the faces of the nailrod, and the latter is out upon this line, forming the face or end of the head at right angles to the line of the shank, as shown in Fig. 5.

The head R having the cutter R, is beveled atr, so that when the nail is severed from the rod it is forced downward by the square end of the cutter R and periphery of its head upon the bevel 0' and thereby quickly projected laterally from the machine and through the aperture (0 in the bed A to a suitable receptacle below.

S, Figs. 3and 4. designatesa guide-bar, which is adjustably held by a clamping-jaw, s, and screws 8 to a bracket, S, secured to the bed A. The end 8 of the bar S projects upward and is beveled, as shown in Fig. 4, to serve as a bearing for and to guide the nail-rod T to the dies. A furnace, V, is secured to the bed' A and operates as a support and guide to direct the rod to the guide S, which rod constitutes the support for the blank.

\V WV designate feed-rollers, by which the rod is fed forward to and through the furnace.

The several die-shafts,F, F, and I, and rolls L, and all other revolving parts in the carrier 0, are supplied with oil in the following manher: To supply the shafts F F, I form a groove, 0, in the inner surface of the flange O, which groove I connect by vents 0 with the journalbearings of the shafts F F. I supply oil tot-he groove 0 through bores d (i that extend within the body of the gear-wheel D, from an annular groove, D", formed in the sleeve D of said gear-wheel. d designates an aperture opening into the groove D. The shafts I are provided with oil through boresc, that extend in the body of the carrier from thejournals of the shafts I to an annular'groove, 0 formed in the face of the carrier, towhich oil is fed through a funnel or tube, 0*, that extends through the fixed wheel D to said groove. As will be readily understood, oil in the grooves C and 0 will by centrifugal force be fed to the vents 0""and c and thence to the shafts F, F, and I, and all other bearings in the carrier 0. i

The oil for the rolls L passes from the groove 0 to and through the pins Z to the bearings of the rolls L on said pins Z.

The nail-rod is first acted on by the die K and roll L, (the carrier rotating in the direction of the arrow 0,) and is by said dies slightly elongated and reduced in thickness. The blank is next operated upon by the side dies, which reduce in width, elongate, and bend it into a plane parallel with the face of the carrier. It

is then operated on in consecutive order by each pair of face and side dies, and finally by the bending and beveling dies and cutters.

All the dies and rolls have plain ungrooved faces, and are relatively formed to draw down the head and shank of the blank to proper shape.

I have herein shown and described the nailrod as operated upon by the dies at the bottom of the carrier. This is of great importan ee, as thereby I am enabled to avoid all danger of the nails becoming entangledin the dies, as sometimes results when said nails are formed at the top of the machine. Although I have shown a certain number of dies, it will be understood that a greater or less number may be employed if found desirable.

Without limiting myself to the exact construction shown, I claim- 1. The combination, in ahorseshoe-nail-forging machine, of arotatable die-carrier, rotatable dies upon said carrier arranged to simultaneously engage the opposite faces of a nailblank, and a support, substantially as described, below the carriershaft to support and present such nail-blank to said dies below the shaft of said carrier, as and for thepurpose set forth;

2. A rotatable die carrier provided with dies arranged in succcssivesets to operate simultaneously upon the opposite faces ofanailblank, in combination with a furnace secured in a fixed position and constituting a guide for said blank, and feed-rollers to move the nailbar forward through said furnace, substantially as described.

-3. In combination, a supporting-bed, a rotatable die-carrier mounted thereon and provided with a series of dies to successively engage the opposite sides of anail-rod, and a series of dies to successively engage the opposite faces of said rod, afurnace secured to said supporting-bed, and means, substantially as described, to feed the nail-rod through said furnace to said dies, as and for the purpose specified.

4. In a horseshoe-nail-forging machine, a rotative die-carrier, in combination with a series of rotatable dies mounted upon said carrier, and means, substantially as described, for positively rotating said dies and for presenting a nail-rod between two series of dies supported by the carrier below the axis thereof, as and for the purpose specified.

5. In a nail-forging machine, a supportingbed, a rotatable die-carrier mounted thereon and provided with a series of rotatable dies having gear-pinions, in combination with fixed spur gear-wheels for rotating said dies, and means, substantially as described,whereby the nail-rod is fed to said dies between the carrier and its supportingbed.

6. In a nail-forging machine, a grooved diecarricr, a series of rotatable side dies, as G2 G thereon, in combination with aseries of blocks, H, substantially as described.

7. A rotatable die-carrier, side dies, Gr G rotatably mounted thereon, in combination with blocks H and rotatable face-guides K, substantially as described.

8. A grooved rotatable die-carrier, C, dies L, rotatably mounted thereon, in combination with blocks 1, having journal-pins l, and means, substantially as described, for holding said blocks in position, as and for the purpose set forth.

9. The combination,with the carrier and its rotative dies, of the rollers L and pins supporting the rollers and supported each by a block secured detachably to the carrier, substantially as described.

10. The recessed carrier having detachable blocks Z, fitting the recesses, and rollers carried by pins supported by said blocks, substantially as described.

11. The combination, with the dies having shoulders, of rotative disks having studs arranged to bear on said shoulders and securing devices connecting the dies detachably to the disks, substantially as described.

12. The combination, with the carrier, ofa series of rotative side dies and a block arranged in advance ,of each pair of side dies, substantially as described.

13. The combination, with the carrier, vof rotative side dies, blocks H in advance of said dies, and face-guides, each revolving above one of said blocks, substantially as described.

14. In combination, a rotating carrier, side.

dies pivoted to'said carrier, blocks, and faceguides, arranged substantially as described,

side dies, blocks, and face-guides, arranged as described, and the facedies and rolls arranged to operate upon a nail-blank in the same versaid dies, blocks, and face-guides having plain ungrooved faces adapted to simultaneously operate upon all sides or faces of anail-blank, I substantially as and for the purpose set forth. f

15. The combination of the carrier having tical plane, substantially as described.

16. The combination of the-cutter shafts and heads, having cutters fixed thereto to sever a finished nail from a nail-rod, one cutter projecting beyond and the other at or within the pitch-line of the shaft-connecting gears, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

17. The combination of the carrier, revolving cutter-heads and cutters, the outer head having a beveled edge and the inner head having a cutter arranged to force the blank against the said beveled edge,.substantially as de- 7 scribed.

18. The combination, with the rotating carrier and guides for presenting a nail-rod at an angle thereto, of rotating dies constructed and arranged, substantially as described, to bevel the head and bend the shank central with the head after the head is formed, substantially a set forth. 1

19. A rotatable die-carrier having a series of rotatable die-carrying shafts mounted therein, dies carried by said shafts, and annular and radial chambers to supply said shafts with oil, substantially as described.

20. A rotatable die-carrier, 0, having r0- tatable dies and oil-receiving grooves C c", in I 

